SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANTS DISTRIBUTED TO AID WV POOR

The West Virginia Bar Foundation, in a cooperative effort with the Supreme Court of Appeals, the West Virginia Bankers Association and the West Virginia State Bar, announced today the continuing success of the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) program. This program, initiated in 1990 by the Bar Foundation, has generated over $7 million in the past ten years of operation.
The IOLTA program allows attorneys to place short-term client trust funds in an interest-bearing NOW account. Eighty percent of the interest earned on these accounts is distributed to the state's three existing legal services programs which provide free civil legal services to low income citizens. Additionally, as approved by the Supreme Court, fifteen percent of the funds are distributed to special projects, including the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in West Virginia, the hiring of legal interns from West Virginia University College of Law to work in various Legal Services offices, and a special Elder Law Project.
Before the creation of IOLTA, lawyers lumped these short-term
monies into a single account, and the interest for each deposit was
so small that the cost to administer the accounts was not worth the interest earned.
"The Court commends the lawyers and financial institutions that have participated in this effort. Many men, women and children, who would otherwise go unserved, have been assisted with their civil legal cases," said State Supreme Court Chief Justice, Elliott Maynard.
Charleston attorney, G. Nicholas Casey, Jr., President of the West Virginia Bar Foundation said, "One of the Bar Foundation's most important responsibilities is to administer the IOLTA program. The major goal for the IOLTA program is to provide free civil legal services for our low income citizens and I commend the banks of West Virginia for their involvement in this fine program," he said.
State Bar President, Parkersburg attorney, James I. Stealey remarked that he was very pleased with the outpouring of assistance that has been received by law offices across the state.
"After conducting a legal needs survey ten years ago, the State Bar found that ninety percent of the 500 families surveyed in West Virginia, with households at or below the 125% federal poverty level, experienced legal problems in the proceeding year. I'm glad that the Bar has become so much more proactive in helping to assist these people with their legal needs," said Stealey.

GRANTS AWARDED IN MAY, 2000

Appalachian Legal Services - $129,900.00
West Virginia Legal Services Plan - $194,850.00
Mountain State Justice - $108,250.00

Total Grants Awarded in May, 2000 $433,000.00